3. Circle Pines, Minnesota

Suburb of: Minneapolis – St. PaulMetro area unemployment rate: 6.5%Median house value: $203,954Safer from crime than this percent of all U.S. communities: 55%

Circle Pines is a small city with a population of 5,407 — and more people working in computers and math than 95% of the U.S. It has better public schools than 90% of all U.S. communities, and its public schools are better than 95% of schools in the rest of the state. A minority of Circle Pines’ populace holds a four-year degree (31.5%), but the vast majority are homeowners (92.6%). Further analysis of the suburb is found on its Neighborhood Scout profile.